Do not normally photograph people events but it looks as if I will be photographing a christening. I have a 35mm 2.8 lens a 50mm 1.8 lens and my old faithful, my 16-85 vr lens. Since we will be in a church and I do not want to use a flash what is my best choice of lens? Only have one chance to get this right. Would appreciate any feedback from those who shoot functions like weddings, etc. Thanks to all who answer.
Lens choice
- Thread starter RON_RIP
- Start date
The choice to make here is to shoot at 127.5mm (85 on a crop) at high iso since it will not be good lighting in the church, or shoot at 75mm (50mm on a crop) with a larger aperture and lower iso. I would use the 50mm. You can always crop in post if you need it a little tighter.
I don't think the 35mm f2.8 will get you close enough.
singlerosa_RIP
Senior Member
I'd go with the 50. I've shot a couple of baptisms with fast zooms and all the shots were in the 45-55 range.
I'm gonna go against the crowd here. Your best chances in getting the right composition is your zoom lens assuming you are using a DX camera.
You need to be close to the parents and priest and the 50mm is not going to cut it. Use incandescent WB.
If possible, ask the priest if you can use flash. They normally allow it.
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You need to be close to the parents and priest and the 50mm is not going to cut it. Use incandescent WB.
If possible, ask the priest if you can use flash. They normally allow it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
I'm with Glenn. Movement in a church can be limited, particularly in the middle of a service, so the zoom's going to be your best friend.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
A little planing might help a lot here... Can you scope out the church ahead of time and get an idea of how the scene will meter? That would probably answer your question for you right there.
If this were my shoot and I had to go in "blind", I would opt for the zoom, shooting it fairly wide, and letting the ISO do it what it needed to keep my shutter speed up around 125/s or so, at a minimum. If that wasn't feasible, I'd have the 50mm in my pocket at the ready. I would also know in advance how I'm going to carry a spare if I need to and be able to swap them with a minimum of fuss and bother.
You might want to ask someone ahead of time to hold your spare lens FOR you so you can perform a discrete exchange that does not cause a distraction if keeping a spare lens on you during the ceremony is not an option.
As previously mentioned, I would definitely shoot RAW or RAW + JPG.
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If this were my shoot and I had to go in "blind", I would opt for the zoom, shooting it fairly wide, and letting the ISO do it what it needed to keep my shutter speed up around 125/s or so, at a minimum. If that wasn't feasible, I'd have the 50mm in my pocket at the ready. I would also know in advance how I'm going to carry a spare if I need to and be able to swap them with a minimum of fuss and bother.
You might want to ask someone ahead of time to hold your spare lens FOR you so you can perform a discrete exchange that does not cause a distraction if keeping a spare lens on you during the ceremony is not an option.
As previously mentioned, I would definitely shoot RAW or RAW + JPG.
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I agree with [MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION], as a little planning will go a LONG way. IF you find the lighting will support the zoom without going over ISO 800, that would be optimal, but not knowing the location: I'm gonna add my vote to the 50. It's fast, so should be able to compensate for the lighting, yet long enough that you can stay somewhat out of the way. I've shot a couple of baptisms and such at church, and the 50 was my best friend.
It will also help to find out where they'll be standing so you can plan ahead for where you want to stage, and any time possible, even right before the service, ask if you can use your flash. Most places don't mind for this type of ceremony. You can probably sneak in early and meter, even snap a couple of test shots.
It will also help to find out where they'll be standing so you can plan ahead for where you want to stage, and any time possible, even right before the service, ask if you can use your flash. Most places don't mind for this type of ceremony. You can probably sneak in early and meter, even snap a couple of test shots.
I would think that if you're planning to shoot the zoom any wider than 50mm, then the 50mm would be the way to go. You would be able to use the larger aperture, a higher shutter speed, and/or a lower ISO. I would have thought the only reason to use the zoom would have been if you need the extra 35mm reach above 50mm. Other than a possible wide angle shot of the church or something like that, I would think that most of the shots would have been zoomed in tight on the parents/godparents/baby and shooting wide would just mean more extreme cropping in post.
Still kind of a NEWB here, but what does shooting the zoom wide buy you?
SkvLTD
Senior Member
Buys you the proper framing if you're s@#$ out of space to back up enough to fit whatever you need into 75mm frame.
In all honesty, you should know what you'll need within 1st 5 minutes of being in the space. Changing lenses is a matter of if 30 seconds, so I wouldn't worry too much and bring both.
In all honesty, you should know what you'll need within 1st 5 minutes of being in the space. Changing lenses is a matter of if 30 seconds, so I wouldn't worry too much and bring both.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Well I thank everyone for the great imput. I have a good deal of faith in my 16-85 but will carry the 50 in my pocket in case I have to change lenses. Of course I always shoot raw and in full manual and I will certainly try to scope out the area in advance. Given the relatively good light in that church I believe I can tweak the ISO upward enough to not use flash. I am only planning on a 5x7 print to present to the parents as a present at the reception later in the day. Will post my results on the evening of March 16th. I am scheduled for cataract surgery the following day so I feel fortunate to get this shoot in before that and more fortunate to have all of your fine advice.
Following up on this thread, we went to the Christening today. Ended up using the zoom and the 50mm. Here are some photos of the happy event. Proud parents
With grandparents
exhausted participant
young cousin
This is my last photo post for a while. Off to cataract surgery tomorrow. Thanks again to all of you for your response to this thread. I was able to get the results I wanted
With grandparents
exhausted participant
young cousin
This is my last photo post for a while. Off to cataract surgery tomorrow. Thanks again to all of you for your response to this thread. I was able to get the results I wanted